A round-up of the status in Europe regarding the donation
of blood by people with myalgic encephalomyelitis. This page will be kept up to
date following any changes in the policies of governments and healthcare
services in Europe.

No blood donation ban in Denmark
currently. Although we have contacted both our Seruminstitute and the Board of Health. They both responded that they have no plans of a blood donation ban but they were keenly following the research on XMRV.

No blood donation ban in Germany currently. There
is an old recommendation from the Robert-Koch-Institut (comparable
to the CDC in the US) that German people with ME should not donate blood, but it is only a recommendation, and it is from the 1990s.
EMEA Germany wrote to the health minister Philip Rösler (greenhorn) and demanded a blood ban. He did not react or
reply.
The person in the health ministry who is responsible for the blood banks (Dr. Johanna Strobel)
was contacted and sent lots of information. So far she has not reacted and
has not answered.

No blood donation ban in Norway currently.
Although EMEA Norway member Norwegian ME Association has been
actively involved in discussions with the government and health
institute and has been discussing in the media.
Click here to see Norwegian Helsedirektorat response to EMEA
call for European blood donation ban for people with ME.

The government authorities responsible for this state that one must not give blood if one is ill and that
this includes ME patients as well. However, the reality is that ME patients are allowed to give blood (possibly
due to continuing ignorance of some healthcare personnel who believe
ME patients only have psychiatric problems) and/or they are allowed to give blood if they are feeling more or less ok at the time.
Despite this not proving they are well and free of infections. The
Norwegian health authorities often refer to "other European health authorities" -
which usually means UK - when it comes to ME. It is to be seen
whether the Norwegian authorities will follow the UK decision.

No blood donation ban in Sweden currently. EMEA member RME is arranging for
Dr. Judy Mikovits to meet with people from the Swedish Institute for
Infectious Disease Control in December. We shall see if this changes
anything.